Ribbon burner and electrode assembly



Nov. 14, 1967 H, E TEMPLE 3,352,346

RIBBON BURNER AND ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 18. 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet L 74 -f lB0 '/6370 '\fv :EY/72 e2 67 f4 "a-V69 f /f Ffa 67 N l (l I /B `/43 /w 5\ l1 I Lib-P 1- il i i l l I l l l I I I l 6B^\ l l l l l l l' l :fw Nl O fi 7 '5 le v e5 m`fl4 I6 Tl 7 I 1/9 'sa 5g u INVENTOR HIRAM E TEMPLE ATTORNEYS H E. TEMPLE RIBBON BURNER AND ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov.` 14, 1967 Filed Feb. 18, 1964 FIG. 5

INVENTOR. HIRANI E. TEMPLE United States Patent Oice 3,352,346 Patented Nov. 14, 1967 York Filed Feb. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 345,705 Claims. (Cl. 158-115) This invention relates to improvements in gas burner assemblies -of the type which burn a premixed combustible hydrocarbon gas and air mixture, usually under an appreciable pressure to meet the exigencies of both industrial and domestic uses. The present invention is particularly concerned with a burner for -use in the baking ovens of commercial bakeries and is of the type which includes an extremely elongate burner housing or barrel having longitudinally spaced burner ports therein issuing a gaseous fuel which is ignited by an electrode.

An important object of the invention is to design a ribbon burner assembly incorporating a readily dismantled, accurately positioned, constant ignition electrode having a wide area conductive surface which will last much longer than conventional rod type electrodes and eliminate the need for intermittent ignition electrical switch gear.

Another object of the invention is to design a burner assembly having a disassemblable flag electrode which when installed must always be positively located and properly positioned relative to the burner ports in the burner tube.

A further object of the invention is to provide a burner assembly of the character described in which the electrode ag must be installed directly on the ribbon, and not angularly displaced from it, so that a controlled spark gap width is maintained.

Another object of the invention is to design a burner assembly of such construction that proper positioning of the electrode flag reiative to the burner ports is rendered automatic and the danger of the flag being mispositioned so that ignition does not occur and raw gas is emitted to create a dangerous explosive condition is eliminated.

A further object of the invention is to design a burner assembly including an electrode which is prelocated in angular position relative to the burner tube ribbon ports so that it can be installed by a relatively unskilled person without mishap.

Another object of the invention is to design a burner assembly of the type described which does not require use of the peephole to adjust the position of the electrode and which cannot slip out of or be jarred out of preadjusted position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a very eiicient and highly reliable ribbon burner assembly of relatively simple construction which can be very economically manufactured and assembled.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the accompanying descripti-on and appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a front elevational view showing the ribbon burner construction mounted in place on an oven wall.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan View of the construction taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional plan view through the electrode housing only.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary plan View of one end of the electrode housing.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary top plan View, similar to FIGURE 2, illustrating the electrode positioning mechanism.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view thereof.

FIGURE 7 is an end elevational view thereof.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view, similar to FIGURE 6, of a modification of the electrode positioning mechanism.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings in which only a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, a letter W generally indicates the insulated wall of an enclosed baking oven of conventional design which includes top and bottom walls as well as side walls and is of a type used in the baking of bread and other farinaceous products. The invention is concerned with the gas burner assembly generally designated B which is supported in position on a side wall of the oven and includes a tubular casing member 10 projecting longitudinally into the oven usually transversely of the length thereof. In the conventional installation a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart burner assemblies B will be employed. A typical installation showing a tunnel oven of considerable length and in which a large number of burners are used in transverse disposition is shown in Patent No. 2,801,686. A specific burner has been illustrated and will be described in the interests of providing a complete understanding of the invention, however, it is to be understood that the particular construction of the gas metering elements and burner ports form no part of the present invention which relates to the accurate positioning of the electrode element relative to the burner ports.

The burner casing or barrel 10 shown is closed at its inner end by an end wall and a longitudinally extending slot 12 is provided in one of its sides in the usual manner for accommodating the port forming ribbon assembly members generally designated R which will be presently described. At is outer end adjacent the side wall W, burner casing 10 is coupled by sleeve 13 to a housing section 14 which is fixed within a burner box 15 extending through an opening in the wall W and incorporating a cover-plate 16 which can be secured to wall W by cap screws 17. A pre-mixed hydrocarbon gas and air mixture under a predetermined pressure is supplied to the burner 10 from any suitable conventional source as described in U.S. Patent No. 3,172,460.

It will be seen that the iitting 19 includes a cap 42 which can be easily removed.

The burner assembly B includes a removable continuous i-gniter unit generally identified by the letter I which includes a casing or housing 65, extending through opening O in the end wall 16 of the burner box 15, and

insulating end bushings 66 and `67 as shown. The sleeve 65, unlike the sleeve 14, is not fixed to cover-plate 16 but is freely received in the opening O so that it can be simply moved endwise out of the oven, when desired. The sleeve 65 on which is fixed a collar 65 abuttin-g against the boss 16a of front plate 16, houses an ignition rod or electrode 68 which extends through openings 69 provided in the bushings 66 and 67. An elbow conduit 70 for the current carrying wire 71 may be provided to lit within the bore 72 of bushing 66 and a wire sheath 71a leads from conduit 70. It will be seen that the bushing 66 may include a projection 66a (FIGURE 4) which is received in an opening 65a provided in sleeve 65 so that the bushing is prevented from rotating relative to the sleeve 65.

Provided on the rod i68 is a fixed washer 73, a fixed pin 74 which extends through the rod 68, and a Washer 75 which is slidably received on the rod 68 and furnishes an abutment for a coil spring 76 which holds the rod 68 in 4assembled position in the usual manner. The pin 74 is snugly received in a groove 67a in the ceramic bushing 67 and, for a purpose which will presently become apparent, prevents the rod 68 from rotating relative to the bushing 67. Rod 68 is provided on its inner end with 3 a flag-shaped plate 77 having an edge 78 parallel with barrel adjacent to the ribbon assembly R. With electric potential being impressedcontinuously upon rod 68, sparks continuously jump the -gap between edge 78 and the burner B and a wide area sparking surface is provided. The member designated 79 in FIGURES l.

and 2 is a pivotally mounted peep-hole cover which in the usual manner can be swung upwardly to permit viewing through an opening in the wall W.

If the flag 77 is not, when installed, in horizontal alignment with the gas issuing slot 12 or should become misaligned in service, ignition will not occur when the gas is turned on and a dangerous explosive atmosphere will be created by the issuance of raw gas into the oven. -It has been found in practice that, too frequently, a workman in removing and reinserting the electrode assembly I will, partly because of the diiiculty of sighting through the peephole opening, not correctly align the flag edge 78 with the ribbon port assembly R. Further, experience has shown that, even though the electrode assembly I is initially correctly positioned and secured by means of a set screw, the set screw tends to work loose with the continual temperature `changes which occur and the offset weight of the ag 77 will pivot the rod and move the ilag 77 away from the ygas issuing slot 12. To positively prevent misalignment from occurring, I have xed a T- shaped key 80 (FIGURES 10-12) on the bushing 67 in a plane substantially at right angles to the plane of the flag 77.` Bolted on the burner tube 10 yas at 81 is a bushing receiving ring 82 which is axially slotted as at` 83 to receive the leg 80a of the key 80. It will be noted that the leg 80a is in axial alignment with the flag `77 (see FIGURES 11 and 12) and that it has diver-ging end walls. 84 at its front end which facilitate its entry into slot 83.

To remove the electrode, assembly I, it is merely necessary to ygrasp the bushing 66 and pull the assembly I axially outwardly to remove the key leg 80a from the support ring 82. When the ag 77 nears the opening O in the front plate 16 the assembly I can be tilted to pass the flag 77 out the opening O. Insertion of an electrode assembly I is also a simple matter and can be accomplished by inserting the flag 77 in tilted position through opening O and .then rotating the assembly I so that the leg 80a of the key 80 is aligned with the slot 83. If the leg 80a is -then pushed through the slot 83 in the ring 82 to the position in which the. parts are shown in FIG- URE 11, the operator is assured that the fia-g 77 is properly positioned `directly on the ribbon assembly R in the path of the gas which is to issue horizontally from the ribbon assembly ports. The ring 82 supports the front end of the ignition assembly I and does so in a manner which prevents any relative change of position of the parts.

In FIGURE 13 I have shown a modied embodiment of the invention in which the slot 83 in the ring 82 is made of sufficient width to pass a head portion 80b provided on the key leg 80a. It will be seen (FIGURE 13) that, after insertion of the key 80 through the enlarged slot 83, the assembly I is pivoted slightly so that the head portion 80h positively prevents any outward axial displacement of the assembly I. In this pivoted position, which is -gravity maintained by the offset weight of the ag 77, the edge 78 of the ag 77 is correctly positioned relative to the gas issuing opening 12. The head portion 80h similarly is provided with the dverging end Walls 84 to facilitate entry of the key 80 into slot 83.

It is to be ,understood that various changes may be made in the construction shown and described to eectuate the same or similar results without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims. The foregoing descriptive matter and drawings are intended only as illustrative and the invention is de- `ined by the claims,

I claim:

1. A ribbon burner assembly comprising: an assembly comprising an elongate, tubular burner member having longitudinally extending burner port means, means for supplying fuel gas to said tubular member and burner port means, and electrode rod means, axially withdrawable from said burner member. and having an electrode with an outer edge parallel to and slightly spaced from said burner port means; means for supplying an electric charge to said rod means; axially extending key and keyway means, mounted by said burner member and electrode rod means assembly in predetermined angular position to prevent rotation of said electrode rod means in at least one direction relative to said burner means and thereby position said electrode edge relative to said port means, said key means being on the electrode rod means and including an axially extending leg having an arrowshaped head, and said key receiving means comprising a ring-shaped member with a slot of a width to pass the arrow-shaped head; the electrode rod means in proper position being gravity biased by the offset weight of the electrode to engage the leg with the side of the slot so that the head prevents axial movement of the electrode rod means.

2., A burner assembly comprising: an elongate, tubular burner member having longitudinally extending burner port means, means for supplying fuel gas to said tubular member and burner port means, and axially extending, axially withdrawable electrode rod means, in operative position extending generally coextensively with said burner member and having an electrode with a charge transmitting end adjacent said burner port means; axially extending key and keyway means, mounted by said burner member and electrode rod means in predetermined relative angular position to enable axial `reception of said electrode rod means by said burner member and to prevent rotation of said electrode rod means in at least one direction relative to said burner port means and thereby rotationally position said electrode end relative to said port means; and means for supplying an electric charge to said rod means.

3. The combination defined in claim 2 in which said assembly is mounted in an `oven enclosed by walls and extends through an opening in one of said walls; said assembly having a base portion mounted on one of said walls with an opening therein out of which said electrode rod means is axially withdrawable from a position inside the oven to a position exteriorly of the said one wall.

4. The combination defined in claim 2 in which said key means is T-shaped with a leg extending axially and said keyway means comprises a ring-shaped member split to receive the leg in a manner to prevent rotation in both directions.

S. The combination defined in claim 3 in which said electrode end comprises a vradially oset flag with an elongate outer edge, extending axially along said burner port means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 290,441 12/1883 Lungen 317-86 1,010,119 11/1911 Crowner 37-86 1,138,926 5/1915 Bernett 287-103 1,157,103 10/1915 Hart 287-103 1,943,632 1/1934 Smith 317-83 2,311,404 2/ 1943 Macchi 158-28 X 2,541,526 2/1951 Lundquist 287-103 2,545,945 3/1951 Ensign et al 158-115 X 2,715,200 8/ 1955 Flynn 317-83 FOREIGN PATENTS 325,708 9/ 1920 Germany.

15,375 6/1897 Great Britain.

FREDERICK L. MATTESON, JR., Primary Examiner. 

1. A RIBBON BURNER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: AN ASSEMBLY COMPRISING AN ELONGATE, TUBULAR BURNER MEMBER HAVING LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING BURNER PORT MEANS, MEANS FOR SUPPLYING FUEL GAS TO SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AND BURNER PORTS MEANS, AND ELECTRODE ROD MEANS, AXIALLY WITHDRAWABLE FROM SAID BURNER MEMBER AND HAVING AN ELECTRODE WITH AN OUTER EDGE PARALLEL TO AND SLIGHTLY SPACED FROM SAID BURNER PORT MEANS; MEANS FOR SUPPLYING AN ELECTRIC CHARGE TO SAID ROD MEANS; AXIALLY EXTENDING KEY AND KEYWAY MEANS, MOUNTED BY SAID BURNER MEMBER AND ELECTRODE MEANS ASSEMBLY IN PREDETERMINED ANGULAR POSITION TO PREVENT ROTATION OF SAID ELECTRODE ROD MEANS IN AT LEAST ONE DIRECTION RELATIVE TO SAID BURNER MEANS AND THEREBY POSITION SAID ELECTRODE EDGE RELATIVE TO SAID PORT MEANS, SAID KEY MEANS BEING ON THE ELECTRODE ROD MEANS AND INCLUDING AN AXIALLY EXTENDING LEG HAVING AN ARROWSHAPED HEAD, AND SAID KEY RECEIVING MEANS COMPRISING A RING-SHAPED MEMBER WITH A SLOT OF A WIDTH TO PASS THE ARROW-SHAPED HEAD; THE ELECTRODE ROD MEANS IN PROPER POSITION BEING GRAVITY BIASED BY THE OFFSET WEIGHT OF THE 